Camp Mechuwana
​PO Box 277 Winthrop ME 04364
​Mechuwana@fairpoint.net
​207.377.2924
​
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Special Places, Special Memories, & Staff Campfires

7/21/2020

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 As I write this, today is Thursday.

During my summer vacations, Thursdays are always my favorite day of the week. Especially Thursday nights after dinner. Wait a minute; I think that I should explain why with a bit more detail.

For the past almost 30 years my summer vacation has been spent at Camp Mechuwana as either a counselor or a Dean. All of those summer so far have been spent with Rally Camp. My first six were as a counselor, I then did twenty (gulp) as Dean and then the last two were as a counselor after I passed the Deaning torch. I went to Rallies in Maine through the United Methodist Church when I was in high school. The summer that I graduated from Mt. Blue High School one of my Dad’s colleagues, Joan DeSanctis called my dad and asked if I might be able to counsel a cabin of junior high girls for Rally Camp. Dad told her that I would. So when I got home from Creative Arts camp on Saturday morning Dad told me to wash all my stuff, pack up and head back to camp as a counselor. I didn’t ask any questions; I was so excited! Thus my escapades as a volunteer at Mechuwana began.

As I am sitting here writing I need to keep stopping because in thinking of Mechuwana my head is so full of memories. So many beautiful memories: all the years of spending my week at Lower Camp listening to the water lap against the shore and the loons sing us to sleep, walking all the trails…I remember walking Loon Lane from Lower Camp to swimming before it got an overhaul and how every summer I would have banged up feet when I got home. How we would wait in line to shower (who else remembers those lovely old showers down at Lower Camp?) and then go to the next bathroom to brush our teeth! I remember an awesome summer spent up at the Village when we had a Talent Night and my cabin did a live broadcast from WMEC. Julio was so surprised when we “interviewed” him! The years that we spent painting churches and helping out at the Salem Economic Ministries! And who can forget the “Summer of the Bob’s” when Mary ended up leaning against a newly painted wall and then had paint in her hair for the rest of the week! Oh, and then there is the year that we picked all of the rocks out of what is now the soccer field!


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Staff campfire, photo courtesy Rally Camp
Then we started the “No Talent Nights” for a few years on Friday nights! Those were such a hilarious time! I even remember Norman popping in one night and he was laughing so hard for a moment I thought we would need to call the nurse! Oh, those were such fun times! We would have Night Walks, dances – come on, “Let’s do the Time Warp Again”! So many games, scavenger hunts and the infamous “Wacky Olympics!” I could go on and on about all the wonderful memories I have!

But there is one area of camp that especially means so much to me. There are two actually, and they are right next to each other. One is the “Path of Peace” that Rally Camp in 2011 blazed the trail for. It was made through (literally) blood, sweat and tears in memory of Julio DeSanctis. The other place is where we have staff campfire. Every Thursday night after dinner we would all head back to our cabins and grab a sweatshirt, lather up with bug spray and then begin the trek down to Lower Camp for Thursday night staff campfire.

For about an hour or so on Thursday nights the Mechuwana staff would keep us all greatly entertained, singing so many campfire songs! Those songs have greatly changed over the years, and every once in a while an oldie but a goodie will make its way back onto the playlist. I will never forget the year that one of the Missions Camps taught us “I’m a Little Teapot”…the 21st century version! I don’t think that one will ever disappear!

But after a while, when the sun as officially set and the campfire is vivaciously burning we will become peaceful, quiet. We wouldn’t really stand still, but in some ways everything would stop. We would hear the lake lapping against the shore. Occasionally a loudly propelled boat would go by. We would hear the cracking of the campfire as it slowly began to burn down. Someone from the staff would read scripture. We would sing “Sanctuary”, “Pass it on” and “Linger”. If we needed rain than Norman would lead us in the “Prayer for Rain”, and if we were really lucky he would read us a Dr. Seuss story. I believe that the most popular is “Yertle the Turtle” followed by “Gertrude McFuzz’ and “The Big Brag”. My three Younglings, especially my son Jayden so love those stories! In fact, his “Yertle the Turtle” book is now held together with duct tape. Plus, me being a person who has spent the majority of her life one town over from where Dr. Seuss was born and raised is special. I’ve even driven down Mulberry Street more times than I can remember.

Back to campfire…then we would pray. Beneath those cathedral trees we would thank God for his blessings; we would thank Him for bringing us all together for a week at Mechuwana, to the place that we all can let our hair down and be our true selves. This camp, the place where we can all get so many hugs in one day that our arms would hurt, were laughter is a second fluid language. A place where at “lights out” we would snuggle into our sleeping bags and thank God for the blessings that He has given us.

And we would sleep. We would peacefully sleep. And the dawn came the next morning we would gently rub our eyes and begin a new day.

We all may not able to be at Mechuwana this year. But Mechuwana will always be in our hearts. I would like to end my little blog with words from a song that will always, always have a very special and sacred place in my heart and soul:

                “Oh spirit of Mechuwana, beneath these cathedral trees
                We worship by cross and alter, for thou art Lord God of all of theses
                Oh, guide us through field and forest, ‘ore paths that we all have trod
                For we belong to Mechuwana,
                And Mechuwana belongs to God.”
 
AMEN!

—Dawn Zarecki Reidy
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Supporting Mechuwana in the Long Run (or Walk or Bike)

7/14/2020

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During these unprecedented times, we all have faced unfathomable new realities. As a result, perspective on our personal priorities and what drives our collective human spirit has been put into greater context. In light of all the challenges and the unknowns that exist in our COVID-laden world, the steadfast spirit of Mechuwana has remained committed to its mission providing positivity, service, and sustenance to our local communities. As many of you know, Norman Thombs, our camp director, and his staff have worked tirelessly over the past few months to prepare, package, and deliver meals to families all over Central Maine. Their efforts have made a tremendous impact in providing food to thousands of people who may otherwise be without it. In order to sustain these efforts and meet increasing demands, we are asking for your help in a FUN and new way!
 
It is with great excitement to announce the launch of our first ever "Camp Mechu-RUN-a Virtual 5K." This new community opportunity will directly support Camp Mechuwana’s summer food program, helping to ensure that families receive meals throughout the remainder of the summer.

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This 5K event can be completed on your own through any form of fitness — walking, running, biking, or any way you choose! Complete your 5K in one day or over a few — it is up to you! This virtual 5K is not timed or a competition, but, feel free to send your time and pics to us at campmechuwana@gmail.com so we can share them on our website once the event is complete. 

Also, as you do your 5K, we encourage you to sport your own Mechuwana apparel such as an old staff shirt, hat, bandana, etc. When doing so, please feel free to tag us @campmechuwana. We want everyone to be able to virtually cheer you on and congratulate you on your accomplishment and support of camp!
 
While registration for this event opened July 1st, the 5K will officially run on Monday, July 20th and will close on Friday, August 14th, which would have been camp’s last scheduled day of the summer season. We will continue to accept registrations during this period of time. To find out more race information and how to register, please visit https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Winthrop/MechuRUNAVirtual5K. Please help us promote this race by sharing it through your own social networks so we can the word out as much as possible.
 
On behalf of the entire Mechuwana community, we sincerely appreciate your continued support of Mechuwana during these unique times. I look forward to seeing your pictures participating in this race! My family and I are ready to rock it and I know you will, too.
 
Ready…Set…Go...have fun & be safe!
 
Thanks and be well everyone,
 
Mike Griswold
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Finding Creative Ways to Connect with Mechuwana Friends During COVID

7/11/2020

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This summer was supposed to be my first summer deaning Elementary/Middle School Music Theater Camp, along with Kwamena Blankson and my very good friend Beth Wallace. This is the camp where Beth and I met, 27 years ago, before I moved to her hometown. Beth and I have been close friends, pretty much ever since. We were roommates for several summers on staff, and last summer we co-deaned Mom/Child and You and Me Camps together. Beth, Kwamena, and I have all three volunteered at the Elementary/Middle School Music Theater Camp for many years, bringing our children, spouses, and our children’s friends along for the ride. Although Beth and I deaned together last summer, putting on a musical in a week brings things to a whole new level. The three of us were looking forward to the challenge with some trepidation, but also a lot of enthusiasm. We were well supported by the dean team that came before us, we had a great staff of old and new volunteers lined up, and we were all looking forward to working together. 

Then came Covid-19. 
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Elementary/Middle School Music Theater camp is a family. The staff and campers have watched my children grow up.  Some of the staff watched me grow up. I have watched our campers and volunteer children grow up. One summer I counseled a cabin with my two-year-old son. I worried the girls wouldn’t like sharing their cabin with a toddler, but they became like his big sisters for the week. Another summer I directed the show with a five-week-old baby strapped to my chest, while my husband played in the pit. Last year a camper helped usher my five- and seven-year-olds on and off the stage for chorus numbers. I myself remember as a camper playing with a baby who has grown up to be one of our adult volunteers!

Many of the volunteers have been involved with the camp for decades, including my dad, and Beth’s mom, and we have often had three generations of a family with us for the week.Our youth leaders are often campers who attended the camp until they aged out, as were some of our adult volunteers. The dean team we are replacing were there when Beth and I were campers. It is a community many of us return to year after year. And every year we invite new campers, and often new volunteers, to join our camp family. Some stay for a week, some a few years, some go away for  awhile and return. Some reappear after many years to drop their kids off with us for the week. Sometimes former volunteers can only join us for the show on Friday, and maybe for the dance party afterwards. Whoever they are, and however much time they spend with us, we hope that they feel a part of the love we have for them, for each other, and for the very special place that has brought us together. It is a Mechuwana story that I’m sure many other camps are familiar with.  


As a music theater camp, music is at the heart of our community. Yes we put on a musical. But we also break out the instruments and sing for morning watch and evening devotions. A group of staff take guitars and sing to the cabins at lights out. Staff and campers gather to make music together during breaks. As a camper I remember the sound of music drifting from the Lodge or from the fire circle after lights out. As a volunteer, singing together late into the night has been one of my favorite parts of the week. It was making music together that I would miss most of all.

So when Beth suggested that we have a Zoom concert to start the summer, I jumped on board, and quickly so did other volunteers.  We invited current and past volunteers, every camper who attended last summer and those who had registered for this summer. Participants were encouraged to perform something — a song, a skit, a poem — or just come along to watch and be together. On the Monday night after what would have been our week of camp, a youth leader, 7 campers (mostly staff kids) and 10 adult volunteers met on Zoom. We took turns sharing favorite songs. A set of siblings shared an amazing lip sync to Disney's Gaston. Two volunteers’ kids played instruments for us, and we shared the fellowship of making music together. It was not the same as gathering in the Lodge with our instruments and our voices, but it was full of love, and although we were apart, we were together. We closed, of course, with the Mechuwana Song. At the end of the evening my son begged me to tell everyone we needed to do it again. It was bittersweet. It did remind me of what I was missing. But I was so grateful to be with each and every one of those people, and grateful for everything they have brought into my life, summer after summer.  

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I hope that you, too, will find ways to get together with your Mechuwana family this summer. If you are a volunteer, reach out to your dean. If you are a dean, reach out to Norm. Feel free to reach out to Beth Wallace and me if you’d like to hear more about our experience. If you happen to like to sing, act, dance, play an instrument, sew costumes, paint sets, or just hang around with people who do, maybe next summer, you’d like to join our Mechuwana family. We would be so glad to have you!

—Bethany (Marsh) Sullivan

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P.O. Box 277, Winthrop, ME 04364-0277
Office Hours: Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m
(TEL) 207-377-2924 FAX (207) 377-4388
Email: mechuwana@fairpoint.net
All photographs on the site are by campers, volunteers, and the staff of Mechuwana.
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